Chapter One: Gang Leader's Wife

Jiangcheng, 1936.

Qiao Residence.

In the living room on the second floor, on a rosewood tea table, a gilded porcelain bowl held steaming medicinal herbs, releasing a bitter herbal aroma.

Aunt Zhang held a soft cloth in her hand, wiping the already shiny tabletop with a few idles, but her eyes kept glancing at the figure bent over the desk by the window.

Aunt Zhang lowered her voice and muttered to Ah Xiu, the young maid carrying a basin of hot water, "Oh, what a tragedy... such a top student from Tongji University, outstanding in both looks and academics, how... how did she end up with our master?" She gestured towards the window, as if the neon lights of the bustling city carried an ominous aura, "This murky water of the underworld is not a place for someone as clean as her to wade in."

Ah Xiu was only sixteen or seventeen years old, with a childlike innocence still lingering in her eyes. She put down the water basin and walked to Zhang Ma's side, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz: "Zhang Ma, please keep your voice down... Madam will be upset if she hears you." She looked at the figure by the window, her eyes filled with genuine worry and admiration, "I think Madam is quite nice, kind and gentle, never putting on airs, it's just... it's just that she's too quiet, always holding a book and reading for most of the day."

By the window, Lin Tang was flipping through a thick architectural atlas in the light of a desk lamp. The dim light outlined her slender profile; her long hair was loosely tied up, with a few stray strands falling beside her cheeks, making her skin appear even paler. She was engrossed in her reading, seemingly unaware of the whispers behind her, only the occasional soft rustling of turning pages breaking the silence of the room.

Ah Xiu carried the bowl of warm medicine and carefully walked over: "Madam, the medicine is ready. Drink it while it's hot."

Lin Tang then raised her head, revealing a beautiful face that couldn't hide her weariness. She took the bowl, her fingertips touching the slightly hot porcelain, and softly replied, "Hmm, leave it here to cool down." Her gaze, however, remained fixed on the open pages of the book, which contained detailed diagrams of a Gothic cathedral.

“Madam, the injury on your leg…” Ah Xiu squatted down, looking at Madam’s right knee covered with a thin blanket, her voice full of heartache, “It must hurt again on this rainy day. It’s all Liang Kuan’s fault from the Black Tiger Gang, he’s inhuman! If it weren’t for his ambush three years ago, you wouldn’t have…” She couldn’t finish her sentence. The bloody incident three years ago not only caused Madam to lose her child, but also left her with this leg ailment that pierced her heart whenever it was cold and damp.

Lin Tang paused almost imperceptibly in the hand holding the medicine bowl. Her long eyelashes drooped, concealing the sudden surge of pain in her eyes. When she looked up again, she had regained her composure, with only a faint, almost reassuring smile on her lips: "It's all over now, Ah Xiu."

Ah Xiu looked at her calm profile, but felt even more distressed. She hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but speak, her voice even lower: "Madam...you, would you like to go see Master? He...he hasn't been home for days. I heard from Xiao Si, the errand boy, that Master has been spending a lot of time at 'Xianledu' lately..." She didn't dare to voice her suspicion that "he might have a woman outside," but the meaning was clear.

Lin Tang put down the empty bowl, picked up a handkerchief and wiped the corner of her mouth. Her tone was still gentle, with a hint of helpless smile: "You silly girl, what are you thinking about all day long?" Her gaze fell back to the pages of the book, her fingertips tracing the intricate lines. "He has his own things to do."

Seeing her like this, Ah Xiu didn't dare to say anything more, but she was worried for her and silently put away the medicine bowl.

However, after a moment, Lin Tang finally looked up from her book and gazed at the neon lights flashing in the deep night outside the window. After a moment of silence, she said softly to Zhang Ma, "Zhang Ma, the ginseng soup simmering on the stove should be ready, right? Lay out a bowl and have Achen prepare the carriage."

Aunt Zhang paused for a moment, then a look of understanding flashed in her eyes, and she quickly replied, "Okay, okay! I'll go right away!" Her steps became lighter.

As soon as Zhang Ma's figure disappeared around the corner of the porch, Lin Tang gently closed the thick architectural atlas, got up and walked to the coat rack, took down a plain woolen coat and put it on. The movement aggravated the old injury on her right knee, and the slight throbbing pain made her brows furrow slightly, but she just silently took a breath.

Downstairs, Ah Chen had already parked the black Chevrolet in front of the courtyard gate. Seeing Lin Tang slowly walking down the stairs while holding onto the railing, he quickly opened an oil-paper umbrella to greet her, tilting the umbrella to carefully shield her from the rain dripping from the eaves.

"Madam, it's chilly at night, please watch your step." Ah Chen's voice was respectful yet carried the eagerness unique to young people. He opened the car door and placed his hand lightly on the door frame.

Lin Tang nodded and sat in the back seat. The car was filled with the familiar scent of leather and tobacco. She placed the warm pot containing ginseng soup on her lap, and the warm porcelain walls transmitted a slightly hot touch through the thin blanket.

The car rolled over the bluestone road, splashing up tiny water droplets.

Ah Chen glanced at her expression through the rearview mirror and hesitated before speaking, "Madam, Uncle Chen said that things are not peaceful at the helm tonight... and Master is handling internal affairs."

Lin Tang nodded slightly, seemingly unconcerned.

Before long, the car turned into a quiet alley and stopped in front of a Shikumen gate with a plaque that read "New Moon Chamber of Commerce".

Two heavy, black lacquered wooden doors were ajar, with dim light and suppressed voices leaking through the cracks.

Ah Chen got out of the car first, opened his umbrella, and led Lin Tang through the courtyard. Damp moss covered the corners of the walls, and the air was filled with the stench of cheap tobacco and rust.

As soon as they stepped into the main hall, a slender old man with gray hair and beard, dressed in a dark blue long gown, came to greet them. It was none other than Uncle Chen, the strategist of the gang. He bowed respectfully and said, "Madam has arrived. It's damp at night, and I'm so sorry you still remembered."

Uncle Chen's gaze swept over the warm cup in her hand, then fell on her slightly limping right leg, a barely perceptible sigh flashing in his eyes.

Lin Tang returned the greeting, her voice gentle: "Uncle Chen, you've worked hard. Qiao Yuan, he..."

Before the words were finished, a shrill scream suddenly erupted from the inner room, followed by the dull thud of a heavy object hitting the ground and the ear-piercing sound of metal scraping against bone.

Ah Biao's hand was nailed to the bench, the white bone of his severed wrist exposed, blood trickling down the floor. Several gang members stood with their hands at their sides, not daring to utter a sound.

Qiao Yuan coldly replied, "Rules are rules. Those who betray their country will have their hands chopped off and fed to the dogs!"

A strong, pungent smell of blood assaulted Lin Tang's nostrils, causing her stomach to churn and her face to drain of color instantly. She staggered half a step, nearly dropping the warm cup from her lap.

Uncle Chen reacted quickly, grabbing her arm and whispering, "Madam, this place is filthy, you..."

Lin Tang had already broken free from his hand, walked a few steps to the door of the inner room, and silently placed the warm pot on the tall flower table next to the door. The porcelain bottom touched the wooden surface, making a soft tap.

"I'm leaving now." She frowned. Although she had been married to Qiao Yuan for five years, she still couldn't get used to the gang's crude and bloody style.

Ah Chen immediately chased after her, "Madam, let me see you off!"

Qiao Yuan was handling business inside and didn't pay attention to Dao Xiaoxiao's small corner. When he came out, he was taken aback when he saw the bowl of ginseng soup still steaming on the flower table.

Uncle Chen stepped forward and whispered, "Sir, Madam came to deliver soup just now, but seeing this scene... she left without saying a word."

Qiao Yuan didn't respond. He ran his fingertips across the warm bowl, the heat making his knuckles curl slightly.

Ah Chen ran back again. It turned out that Lin Tang had gotten into the rickshaw and didn't want him to come along, so he had no choice but to return. Seeing Qiao Yuan's gloomy expression, he forced a smile and approached him: "Sir, Madam specially prepared ginseng soup, which is very nourishing. It's late, so... shall I take you back to the mansion to rest? Madam is definitely waiting for you..."

Qiao Yuan already had this idea and was about to nod.

A henchman poked his head in, his voice tinged with a mixture of anxiety and ambiguity: "Sir, Miss Cheng from 'Xianledu' is on the phone. She says... she has something urgent to discuss with you."

"What urgent matter does she have?" Qiao Yuan's expression was a mixture of disgust and sarcasm, but he still grabbed the trench coat draped over the back of the chair, walked out, and threw a curt order at A Chen: "Drive to Garden Road."

Uncle Chen and Ah Chen were quite surprised to see Qiao Yuan's expression. They both knew that Qiao Yuan treated Lin Tang very well. In the past five years, while other people had women on their left and right, this man was a chaste and self-disciplined man who never philandered.

But this Miss Cheng was no pushover either. It's said that when she first came to the Cinque Terre, she was still a virgin. She kept saying that she was sold in by her heartless uncle and aunt. When she sang "The Wandering Songstress," tears would come out of her mouth. She was truly pitiful to see.

That night, Master Qiao happened to be discussing business in a private room. He saw her through the beaded curtain but didn't pay any attention. However, Cheng Qing rushed over, hugged his leg, and said pitifully, "Master, I'm from Mingde High School. I was originally going to apply to Tongji University... I'm from a good family. Can you please take me?"

Ah Chen overheard this and knew that these two sentences had hit Qiao Yuan's weak spot. Coincidentally, the girl's eyebrows also resembled the lady's.

"I'll redeem this girl," Qiao Yuan said. Sure enough, he immediately took her away and settled her in that exquisite little villa on Garden Road, raising her like a canary.

In this situation, the master can't even care about the soup that the madam brought him!

The car rolled over the wet asphalt, splashing water that shimmered under the dim streetlights.

Ah Chen's palms were sweaty as he gripped the steering wheel, his heart pounding with anxiety.

He quickly glanced at Qiao Yuan in the back seat through the rearview mirror.

The man leaned back, most of his face hidden in the light and shadow passing by the car window, only his taut jawline visible. The cigar butt between his fingers flickered, its crimson glow particularly jarring in the dim light. The carriage was filled with a strong smell of tobacco, along with a faint, lingering metallic odor that had just been carried from the engine room.